September 12, 2008

There is a great deal of information and rumors circulating throughout the Internet and the mainstream media concerning Governor Sarah Palin. The Jewish community deserves to know the facts. Is Senator John McCain’s pick for Vice President a reformer or a pork barrel spender? Is Palin a maverick or a right wing conservative? Is Palin an extremist or does she share our values?

PALIN - BRIDGE TO NOWHERE

Question: “Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges?”Palin: “Yes. I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now--while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist.”- “Did Palin Really Fight The “Bridge To Nowhere”?”The New Republic, 8/29/08

“A new ad from John McCain's presidential campaign contends his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, “stopped the Bridge to Nowhere.” In fact, Palin was for the infamous bridge before she was against it.”– “Fact Check: Palin and the Bridge to Nowhere,” Associated Press, 9/8/08

PALIN - CREATIONISM BEING TAUGHT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

“Healthy debate is so important and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both. And you know, I say this too as the daughter of a science teacher. Growing up with being so privileged and blessed to be given a lot of information on, on both sides of the subject--creationism and evolution. It’s been a healthy foundation for me. But don't be afraid of information and let kids debate both sides.”- “Palin in Her Own Words,”The New Republic, 8/29/08

PALIN - VIRTUALLY ALL ABORTIONS ILLEGAL

“Veteran leaders in the anti-abortion camp say they have never before seen the degree of enthusiasm that greeted Palin's selection as John McCain's Republican running mate. She opposes abortion even in cases of rape or incest.”- “Palin’s nomination adds fuel to abortion debate,”Associated Press, 9/9/08

PALIN - BANNING BOOKS

“It’s true that Palin did raise the issue [of removing books from the library] with Mary Ellen Emmons, Wasilla’s librarian... Emmons reported that Palin pressed the issue...Wasilla resident Anne Kilkenny, who was at the meeting, corroborates Emmons' story, telling the Chicago Tribune that "Sarah said to Mary Ellen, “What would your response be if I asked you to remove some books from the collection?”… According to the Chicago Tribune, Palin did not list censorship as a reason for Emmons’ firing, but said she didn’t feel she had Emmons’ support.”- “Sliming Palin,” FactCheck.org, 9/8/08

PALIN - GLOBAL WARNING NOT MAN MADE

““A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location,” [Palin] said. “I'm not one though who would attribute it to being man-made.””- “Palin Not Convinced on Global Warming,”The Washington Post, 8/29/08

PALIN - PAT BUCHANAN, RON PAUL, AND JEWS FOR JESUS

Numerous observers correctly draw attention to Palin’s associations with former Presidential candidate Pat Buchanan, her praise of anti-Israel Congressman Ron Paul, and her attendance at a Jews for Jesus speech in her church as indications that she supports their viewpoints. To be objective, NJDC has no reason to believe that Palin shares the values of Jews for Jesus or the opinions of Buchanan or Paul when it comes to the subject of the Jewish community or Israel.

Beliefnet's editor in chief, Steven Waldman, take a close look a proclamation Governor Sarah palin signed to declare a "Christian Heritage Week" in Alaska. The pieces is aptly titled, "Palin's Christian Heritage Week" explores the implications and importance of such a proclamation.

Technically, it speaks of the Christian heritage much as Irish citizens might talk about a state's Irish heritage.

But the resolution plucks Founding Father quotes out of context to give misleading impressions about their views on the role of religion in society. James Madison would roll in his grave if he saw that Memorial and Remonstrance was quoted as part of a Christian Heritage resolution. He was a hard-core advocate of separation of church and state who even advocated against well-meaning government efforts to aid religion. Ben Franklin did make that comment about God's intervention during the Constitutional convention but he also declared that he doubted the divinity of Christ. George Washington refused to take communion.

I encourage you to take a look at the article which also includes the actual text of the proclamation by clicking here.

In a Jerusalem Post article titled, "Sarah Palin may be hurting McCain among Jewish voters," Hilary Krieger reports on how the addition of Governor Sarah Palin impacts the Jewish vote. In the story Krieger mentions how Palin's selection has energized the Jewish community against the Republican ticket.

[T]he National Jewish Democratic Council has seized on to raise money from supporters.

"Palin is totally out of step with public opinion in the Jewish community" on domestic issues and has "zero foreign policy experience," the organization wrote in a fund-raising letter sent out last week. It also started an on-line petition asking: "McCain: What were you thinking when you selected Palin?"

At the same time, the Obama campaign has increased its Florida outreach efforts, announcing that it formed six Jewish Community Leadership Committees throughout the state comprised of backers involved in Jewish non-profits, schools, synagogues and other facets of the community. They also count several rabbis among their members, some of upwards of 400 who have joined the campaign effort as part of the group "Rabbis for Obama."

September 11, 2008

Senator Joe Bide is set to be the keynote for our NJDC Washington Conference.

There are already a couple of posts on our annoucnement:

In an article titled, "Biden to Headline Jewish Democrats’ Conference,"The Forward reports that, "NJDC’s September 23-24 program at the Washington Hilton includes sessions on handicapping the 2008 elections, how new media changes the way voters can be reached, and common issues facing the Jewish and African American communities."

The always obesrvant JTA pointed out that, "The speech will be the first time Biden has spoken in front of a meeting of a national Jewish organization since his selection last month as Barack Obama’s running mate."

September 09, 2008

Today, in an article titled, "Koch backs Obama, calls Palin 'scary,'" Ben Smith of the Politico reports that "Former New York Mayor Ed Koch, who endorsed and worked for George W. Bush in 2004, is endorsing Obama today."

The article also points out that,"Koch is a member of a set of
secular, swing-voting Jewish Democrats who may have been pushed away by
the selection of Palin, and his endorsement may be a marker of an
opportunity for Obama to strengthen his campaign among older Jewish
voters in Florida."

I have concluded that the country is safer in the hands of Barack Obama, leader of the Democratic Party and protector of the philosophy of that party. Protecting and defending the U.S. means more than defending us from foreign attacks. It includes defending the public with respect to their civil rights, civil liberties and other needs, e.g., national health insurance, the right of abortion, the continuation of Social Security, gay rights, other rights of privacy, fair progressive taxation and a host of other needs and rights.

If the vice president were ever called on to lead the country, there is no question in my mind that the experience and demonstrated judgment of Joe Biden is superior to that of Sarah Palin. Sarah Palin is a plucky, exciting candidate, but when her record is examined, she fails miserably with respect to her views on the domestic issues that are so important to the people of the U.S., and to me. Frankly, it would scare me if she were to succeed John McCain in the presidency.

For Koch's entire statement please take a look at the JTA Election Central Blog by clicking here.

September 08, 2008

Josh Rolinck of "Neurotic Democrat" has another great post. In his post titled, "McCain's Israel Omission."In his post, Rolnick writes about McCain's lack of attention to our closest ally in the Middle East. Here's an excerpt, but I encourage you to read his entire post by clicking here.

A party convention speech is an important thing. It gives us a sense of
a candidate's priorities. So what are we to make of the fact that,
after allowing his convention to be used as a platform to batter Barack
Obama on Israel (see, for example, Rudy Giuliani's speech), John McCain
took to the stage on the most important political night of his life and
didn't mention Israel, even once?

More than 4,400 words, by my count, and no mention of the Jewish State.

I
know McCain supports Israel. And I suppose I might be feeling more
charitable -- more willing to overlook his unfortunate omission -- were
it not for groups like the Republican Jewish Coalition, which
consistently seeks to use Israel as a wedge issue against Democrats.
(Its home page states: "A Risky Choice Just Got Riskier: Obama-Biden,"
claiming the Democrats have a poor record on Israel; it features
articles like "Why Sarah Palin Will Likely Be Better For Israel Than
Joe Biden.") Likely? They do this, despite the fact that it's
ultimately detrimental to Israel, the very cause they espouse. (As even
AIPAC notes, the best thing for Israel is strong, bipartisan support in
the U.S. Congress.)

Unlike McCain, Obama did choose to
mention the Jewish State during his moment in the international
spotlight. (My wife was the one who pointed this out to me -- it meant something to her.)

Since Senator John McCain selected Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate some reports have surfaced that Palin attended a session in her church, Wasilla Bible Church, at which a representative of Jews for Jesus spoke. A recent NJDC communication asked why Palin did not condemn the speaker. NJDC would like to apologize for our statement and we continue to argue against the tactic of “guilt by association.” We have no reason to believe that Palin shares the views of Jews for Jesus.

We continue to judge Palin by her positions and public statements – for supporting teaching creationism in public schools, being against reproductive rights, and believing that climate change is not man made. By these measures she is clearly out of step with the vast majority of the American Jewish community.

September 05, 2008

Michael Adler, immediate past Chair of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) and National Finance Chair of Senator Joe Biden’s last Presidential campaign, has an op-ed that has been published in a number of local Jewish newspapers throughout the country titled, "Reflections on a Momentous Political Week." In this op-ed he discusses both candidates for Vice President, focusing mainly on Senator Joe biden. Please click here to read the entire piece.

On the "Neurotic Democrat" you will find posts about Jewish Democratic politics and even some NJDC events. Please check it out. "Neurotic Democrat" blog, authored by Josh Rolnick, has many great insights and much to say.